ShodhPatra: International Journal of Science and Humanities

Question the Limit of Human Identity and Science in Frankenstein and Professor Shonku: A Posthuman Study

The field of science fiction in today's world is remarkable for its ongoing reflection of contemporary political and social trends. The origin and development of Western and Indian science fiction carry different histories. The earliest form of Western science fiction was more speculative in nature and gradually focused on technologies, discovery and space travel, which can be treated in the group of hard science fiction. Indian science fiction is unique in theme for its treatment of Indianness. It is the blending of myth and modern technology. The paper makes a comparative study of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and Satyajit Roy's Professor Shonku using the theoretical framework of Posthumanism. The posthuman study of science fiction may be capable of bringing about a substantial change in society. This paper seeks to understand the human-machine relationship from an ethical perspective in both Western and Indian societies. It also identifies how both writers' different philosophical responses to the power of creation, the weight of responsibility, and the ethical limits of knowledge. Shelley’s Frankenstein created the superhuman creature, which is no less a monster in its characteristics. Whereas Roy’s professor Shounku, is a genius for scientific invention, which have indigenous ideas and is for the well-being of human beings. The paper will be critically analysed by Francesca Ferrando’s idea of Philosophical Posthumanism.